Following on from yesterday’s article which argued against the section of United fans who have been critical off Dimitar Berbatov because of his goal distribution, we will now be looking at how he compares with all our top scorers during the Premier League years.

We have looked at how many goals each of our top scorers have managed as well as how many goals they have scored without penalties (to paint a fairer picture for our top scorers who weren’t the team’s penalty takers, like Hughes, Kanchelskis, Solskjaer, Cole, Yorke, Berba etc.). We’ve looked at how many different games they’ve scored in, to compare the goal distribution, as well as how many different games they’ve scored in not including the games that came solely from penalties (sometimes this makes no difference, as a striker may have scored a penalty in a game but have also scored from open play). We’ve then looked at how many games each top scorer has started and in what % of these games they have scored, again, including and not including games where penalties were scored.

Summary: When looking at United’s top scorers
– With three games left to play for Berbatov, the only times a United player has scored more goals than him in the previous 18 Premier League seasons are Rooney +5 (09-10), Ronaldo +10 (07-08) and van Nistelroy +4 (02-03) and +2 (01-02).

– When not including penalties, the only times a United player has scored more goals than him in the previous 18 Premier League seasons are Rooney +1 (09-10) and Ronaldo +6 (07-08).

– Berbatov has scored in 48% of the games that he’s started. This is a better rate than 13 of the other 18 top scorers. The five occasions when his rate is bettered are: Rooney (09-10), Ronaldo (07-08), Van Nistelrooy (05-06) and (01-02) and Solskjaer (96-97).

– When looking at total appearances, Berbatov has scored in 37% of the games he has played in. When comparing this with our top scorers in the Premier League years (not including penalties) his goal distribution rate has been bettered 9 times from the 18 seasons: Rooney (09-10), Ronaldo (07-08), van Nistelrooy (05-06), (03-04) and (01-02), Yorke (99-00) and (98-99), Solskjaer (96-97) and Cantona (95-96).

– Berbatov has a better goal distribution spread than Hughes (92-93), Cantona (93-94), Cole (97-98), Sheringham (00-01), van Nistelrooy (02-03), Rooney (04-05), Ronaldo (06-07) and (08-09). We won the league in 6 of these 8 seasons, and in the top two in 7, just to illustrate that our strikers weren’t under-performing or playing with a less able team.

Out of interest, fans’ favourite Carlos Tevez, never scored in as many games as Berbatov has done this season. I don’t recall people criticising his goal distribution though. It doesn’t seem to matter if you score more goals, it doesn’t seem to matter if you score in more games, just run around a lot and you will be well loved by the United faithful.

Amazing skill and ability... but doesnt seem to be a "United Player"... if that makes sense??.... just sommat not quite there.... dont know what it is...i personally would like him to get stuck in more... and graft... but then realise he isnt that type of player... and thats maybe what it is.

Stats will never show how important berba was last season helping rooney get his goals. He dropped deep and held up play well and made space for the wingers. His off the ball running creates so much space for tony, rooney and nani that they are more effective. Fans that look at stats (not you) to decide who is better than who dont understand football, otherwise zidane's contribution in terms of goals and assists means he is actually quite an averagely world class football player, while we know in reality he was an all-time great. True football fans can see his class, on or off the ball, while fans of 'teams that win' will only look at stats, and nothing else. Why do you think Sir Alex paid 30m+ for him and not for tevez?

2 Hrs before the biggest game of the season so Berbatov's stats are not exactly my most pressing concern. Won't be at them game so I'm off to watch it in the pub. I couldn't watch this one without any alcohol in my sytem. Come on United, hopfully I'll be back on here later, happy with a positive result, nicel pissed up, and making absolutely no sense whatsoever.

The problem with berbs is, he does not fit into united's way of playing. Esp the counter attack or if united play 451. Another problem with berbs, he plays in rooney's position the no10 role. And with rooney's age, and united's model of paying contracts to players in their 30's only 1 year extention, berbs united's future is a worry. Fergie has got the player he always wanted, a poacher with pace who plays on the shoulder, and with the player he wanted, he can restore rooney in his rightful position in the hole.

Great articles on Berba Scott. Like you, have always been a fan and feel he gets an unfair rep. The big thing for me though is that Utd are at our best when we play with pace and the Bulgar at times slows the play down too much. Little Pea by contrast contributes to a higher tempo.

Off subject this has felt like the longest weekend ever. Just want this game to start. Hopefully we do them.

Gazzer - Relax mate, I wasn't for one second implying that we're not all fired up for the game, I was merely expressing my own nervousness. Well taxi's outside now so I'm off out the door, enjoy the game, later......

Actually people were highly critical of Tevez's lack of goals and distribution of them.

Shooting down the 'fictional' united fan again scott.... The guy whose opinions are conveniently just the type to be easily dismissed by your point.

Of course without passing judgment on berbatov on this occasion it is probably worth reminding the readers that it was not until Ole Gunnar that we had a 20 goal a season striker. We have since become accustomed to prolific players like Van Nistlerooy and points totals in the mid to high 80s (maybe not this season) where one season in the 90s 75 was enough to be champions.

The game has changed.

Actually, I've really no complaints about Berbatov's goal total this year. That his distribution of goals has not made him our number one striker is however- readily apparent. It's been much better this season, he's won us points and generally not been as wasteful in front of goal. But I'm afraid there is far more to it that just defeating the arguments that are easily knocked down.

"just run around a lot and you will be well loved by the United faithful."

This is a very uncultured opinion by the way. At first I shared it. At the time people were singing 'fergie fergie sign him up" I was calling them dick heads. His enthusiasm and work ethic were not matched by productivity and he was not worldclass.

But my mind soon changed about Tevez when I realised the impetus that he brought to the attack. I'm not necessarily in regret about Tevez leaving but I will say this. People dismiss work rate and effort as something that division 2 players can have, that people down the park can have.

Speaking of 'park' I think it has become pretty clear the value of work rate, effort etc. For a premiership player not to have it is nearly criminal. For a player that has those traits above and beyond other players at the highest level- mixed in of course with a good brain and at least 7/10 technique you end up with players that can win matches like Fletcher, Park, Valencia etc.

We've really replaced Tevez's work ethic when Ronaldo left and Valencia came it. It was a vacancy for a hard working, energetic, disciplined player. I'm not using this to have a go at any player- just making the point. Indeed one only has to look at Barcelona to see that their game is 50% ground work, swarming around the opposition and 50% great skills. Ibrahimovic didn't put in the shift required and was dumped despite costing 68m.

Very interesting article.Personally I don`t like Berbatov but I respect his contribution this year. The problem with him is that he failed to contribute when it most mattered- last year vs. Blackburn and this year vs. City in cup semi. If he`s happy being third choice striker than let`s keep him.

Interesting that people keep slagging off Berbatov for having a few poor games a season, while another striker can go 12 months(!) by playing poorly and dragging the clulb's name through the mud, double his wages to obscene amounts, question the manager's authority in public and still be cheered?

While Rooney runs around and drops way too deep into midfield, blocking the path of his team mates, telling everyone to eff off, huffing and puffing and occationally getting a goal this season, Berbatov plays by putting other into play, either by dropping deep, creating the right amount of space and then excecutes a telling pass - and sometimes he scores magnificent goals as well.

And the one to leave first? Probably Berbatov. Because if Rooney gets back to what used to be his best, he is an awesome player.

lol....these stats only prove his worth against the low-average teams, bottom line is that berbatov cannot prove his worth against the top teams in the epl or champions league which is why fergie doesn't trust him when we come up against the best....i find it irritating that you compare him with the likes of cantona, sheringham, yorke cole when these guys have at more then 1 occasion destroyed top teams, in important games...anyway, he is still a big factor winning epl this season...thanks for going to the effort for doing this...

@warchild I was disgusted to hear the comparisons between Cantona and the bulgarian. I think Berbatov makes me so angry as he is soooo lazy. For your most expensive signing EVER you expect more.People can defend the Bulgarian all they want but OUR manager does NOt trust him for the big games, says it all. I say sell him this summer see if we can recoup some money while we still can.